New MPs, new government... new politics?

It’s Keir Starmer’s first full week in government and he’s already facing an impending crisis: overflowing prisons. Amol and Nick speak to the former justice secretary Alex Chalk, who tells us what his successor, Shabana Mahmood, should do to fix it. Journalist and podcaster Helen Lewis swings by to assess Labour’s first week and the Conservative leadership race.And – what a row over an AI candidate who turned out to be real says about the way rumours circulate via direct messaging.If you have a question you’d like to Amol and Nick to answer, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukEpisodes of The Today Podcast continue to land twice a week post-election and look out for bonus Q&A episodes. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the new government, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme.The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast any time on your smart speaker by saying “Smart Speaker, ask BBC Sounds to play The Today Podcast.”The producer is Izzy Rowley, the editor is Tom Smithard. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Research and digital production from Joe Wilkinson, technical production from Hannah Montgomery.